The best time of year to buy a puppy

[DAVE D1953]

Hi Everybody,

Thanks for your comments as they have been very useful. They certainly highlighted the issue of what's involved in toilet training during the cold, dark winter months. I am glad I asked. Mind you I don't think it has put me off because I would be totally devoted to her. By having a puppy in the winter months and that it would be ready for walkies in the summer would be great because I love walking.

I do have a few more points that I would like to raise.

Firstly, I work as a self-employed handyman which means most of my jobs only take a couple of hours each. The plan would be to take her out in the morning, say for 45 minutes, and have her bed in my estate car so she could sleep. Do you think this is feasible ? Would she be ok travelling in a car.

Secondly, how much would I be expected to pay for a puppy from a reputable breeder.

And lastly, what are the initial costs for the injections etc

Again thank you all for your advice.

Dave

[JaspersMum]

Firstly, I work as a self-employed handyman which means most of my jobs only take a couple of hours each. The plan would be to take her out in the morning, say for 45 minutes, and have her bed in my estate car so she could sleep. Do you think this is feasible ? Would she be ok travelling in a car.

It wouldn't be feasible in the summer months as she would soon over-heat in the car even if you left windows down.  Not so bad in the winter but you'll need a summer plan.  Otherwise I'm sure she'll love being with you.

I'm a bit of a stickler for them learning to have time on their own too as there will be times they can't be with you, and even though I now work from home, in the morning mine still do wees and bed and sleep in another part of the house quite happily whilst I come and go.

[Ninasmum]

Hi Everybody,

Thanks for your comments as they have been very useful. They certainly highlighted the issue of what's involved in toilet training during the cold, dark winter months. I am glad I asked. Mind you I don't think it has put me off because I would be totally devoted to her. By having a puppy in the winter months and that it would be ready for walkies in the summer would be great because I love walking.

I do have a few more points that I would like to raise.

Firstly, I work as a self-employed handyman which means most of my jobs only take a couple of hours each. The plan would be to take her out in the morning, say for 45 minutes, and have her bed in my estate car so she could sleep. Do you think this is feasible ? Would she be ok travelling in a car.

Secondly, how much would I be expected to pay for a puppy from a reputable breeder.

And lastly, what are the initial costs for the injections etc

Again thank you all for your advice.

Dave

Show cockers are 'about' £700 - £750
They need 2 vaccinations, usually the 1st between 8-10 wks & the 2nd @ 12 wks approx.  I think it depends on the area you live regarding costs but in total for both injections i would expect to pay between £50 - £60. 

[Archie bean]

Firstly, I work as a self-employed handyman which means most of my jobs only take a couple of hours each. The plan would be to take her out in the morning, say for 45 minutes, and have her bed in my estate car so she could sleep. Do you think this is feasible ? Would she be ok travelling in a car.

It wouldn't be feasible in the summer months as she would soon over-heat in the car even if you left windows down.  Not so bad in the winter but you'll need a summer plan.  Otherwise I'm sure she'll love being with you.

I'm a bit of a stickler for them learning to have time on their own too as there will be times they can't be with you, and even though I now work from home, in the morning mine still do wees and bed and sleep in another part of the house quite happily whilst I come and go.

Agree with this. If you do leave her in the car then she would need to be crated with no access to any of your tools which could be seen as dangerous chew toys. Although an older cocker might settle down for naps during the day a pup would soon get bored and could do lots of damage. My Aunt left her one year old pointer in her car for 15 mins once. When she came back, the seats where "skinned" of their material and the entire lining of the roof was ripped off.

[Helen]

Firstly, I work as a self-employed handyman which means most of my jobs only take a couple of hours each. The plan would be to take her out in the morning, say for 45 minutes, and have her bed in my estate car so she could sleep. Do you think this is feasible ? Would she be ok travelling in a car.

It wouldn't be feasible in the summer months as she would soon over-heat in the car even if you left windows down.  Not so bad in the winter but you'll need a summer plan.  Otherwise I'm sure she'll love being with you.

I'm a bit of a stickler for them learning to have time on their own too as there will be times they can't be with you, and even though I now work from home, in the morning mine still do wees and bed and sleep in another part of the house quite happily whilst I come and go.

Agree with this. If you do leave her in the car then she would need to be crated with no access to any of your tools which could be seen as dangerous chew toys. Although an older cocker might settle down for naps during the day a pup would soon get bored and could do lots of damage. My Aunt left her one year old pointer in her car for 15 mins once. When she came back, the seats where "skinned" of their material and the entire lining of the roof was ripped off.

depends totally on the dog    Jarvis often goes with OH in his van to jobs (usually on farms so he's within sight and OH can leave the van door open for him. The only time he'll venture out is to see OH so he's quite safe.  Jarv usually just curls up on the front seat and watches the world go by, and even ignores forgotten sausage rolls OH leaves on the dashboard    OH is an agricultural engineer and the van is full of greasy horrible tools - Jarv has been taught that he's only allowed access to the front seats and he doesn't even think going through to the back and wouldn't see tools as fun anyway 

If your dog is used to a car and sees it as a safe place it's not a recipe for a disaster....although if you have a chewer it's a different story 

[Joules]

A crate in the car would be essential I reckon, especially when the pup is young  

Coco now travels in a soft crate in the back of my car.  I am very glad I got one especially this weekend when I heard about a car accident where there were 2 boxers in the car.  Both escaped - one was hit by another car and killed and the other was running around the Motorway in panic until, thankfully, she was caught 

[beanbag]

Im getting my pup on Wednesday so mid Novemeber and although im not excited about standing out in the cold im am excited about having my pup. I also think if i can do it in the winter the summer will be a breeze.

[Helen]

A crate in the car would be essential I reckon, especially when the pup is young  

Coco now travels in a soft crate in the back of my car.  I am very glad I got one especially this weekend when I heard about a car accident where there were 2 boxers in the car.  Both escaped - one was hit by another car and killed and the other was running around the Motorway in panic until, thankfully, she was caught 

Sometimes you don't have the option - the back of the van is entirely filled with tools and equipment and is grim with no room for a crate

If you look at statistics rear-end accidents are far more prevalent than head on's so potentially your dog is in more danger at the back of the door (our only accident in our car was someone on the phone driving into the back of us - Jarvis was thrown into the dog guard but thankfully was only a bit shaken up)

We make our decisions based on our circumstances and in our case a crate won't work    We have a harness for him that attaches to the seat belt.

[Joules]

I wasn't talking about you Helen    I was talking to the OP